Packing gland



March 2s, 1933. H, EL LA goun 1,902,960

PACKING @LAND Filed oct. e.V 19:27`

.Patented Mar. 2s, 1933 HARRY E. LABOUR; or cHIcAGoN HEIGHTS, ILLINOISPACKING GLAND My invention relates to packing glands and is particularlyadapted to forming a fiuid tight joint for a shaft or rod wherecorrosive fluid is pumped, or for general purposes.

While I shall herein describe and illustrate a packing gland forpacln'ng av rotary shaft particularly adaptedfor use in handlingcorrosive fluid, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not to belimited to this particular lservice or the specific structure which Ihave herein described and illustrated.

In the handling of corrosive fluids it is often difficult to keep atight packing gland because the fluid attacks the packing, in some casesdestroying its lubricating qualities,and

in some cases destroying its structure, thereby causing disintegration"and the like.

Ipropose to employ block graphite or` other' equivalent materialhavingthe -ability to re`- sist corrosion and to provide a substantiallyantifriction bearing. This block graphite or equivalent material is thebearing material in contact with' the moving shaft or rod. Since I it isunyielding and yet'is subject to wear, a.v

tight cylindrical or peripheral bearing between it and the'shaft cannotbe maintained.

I prefer to make the engaging surfaces flat,

i. e., plane surfaces, since both rotary motion and motion oftranslation may occur between e such surfaces, and yet asubstantiallyfluid tight joint maintained. To this end I provide a flat flange on theshaft and a flat ended ring or tube in endwi'se engagement with the Esame. The surfaces are kept in engagement preferably by'a springfollower.

The space between the outer periphery of the ring andthe casing or bossof the pump or the like, through which the shaft projects, is sealed offby a compressible fibrous packing or the equivalent thereof, bearingeither upon the ring or upon the follower which forms a structuralextension or mounting for said ring.

In the preferred form of my invention I provide two facing fianges onthe shaft, one of which is inside the casing or hub of the pump, and thekother outside the same. A

y ring isl provided for` each flange and the spring pressure which isemployed for keeping the rings in engagement with the anges Applicationled October 6,' 1927. Serial No. 224,349.`

may now be balanced out. At the same time, a double seal is'provided. Ialso provide -means for supplying a lubricant between these two angeswhich permits of ,lubricating the bearing surfaces from the centeroutwardly in Aboth directions, and this assists also in-sealing thespace between the shaft and the rings and also the space between theshaft and the carrier. v

There .are numerous improvements in de 60 tail which will be apparentfrom the descri tion of the specific embodiment herein dlsclosed.'

Now in order to acquaint those skilled in the art with4 the manner ofconstructing and 65 operating a device embodying my invention, I shalldescribe in connection with the accompanying drawing a specificembodiment of the invention. In the drawing Fig. 1 is a longitudinalsection through the gland and bearing assembly of a direct motor rivenpump, the parts of the motor and pump which do not enter into thepresent invention being omitted for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken through the gland on the line 2-2of Fig. 1. Referring now to Fig. `1, the motor shaftn 1 is mounted insuitable antifriction bearings 2 and 3 supported in the motor frame,which motor frame is also supported on a base which slpports the pumpbody 4: shown at the right o ig. 1. l'

The motorshaft 1 is hollow to receive the tension bolt 5. At its righthand end the motor shaft 1 is counterbored, preferably on'a taper, toreceive Athe reduced end 6 of the pump vshaft 7. Thepump shaft 7 has animpeller 8 mounted upon the right hand 90 end thereof, and this impeller8 lies inside the bedy'or casing 4: of the pump, which body or casing 4has a hub or hollow boss 9 projecting toward the bearing support 10 ofthe electric n motor. .95 The motor shaft 1 and the pump shaft 7 aredrawn together in alignment by the tensionbolt 5 which has the head 11at the opposite end of the shaft. The pump shaft 7 preferably has ashoulder 12 engaging the 100 i end surface of the-motor shaft 1. Ailan iA ring 13 ismounted over the joint between t e motor pump shaft .7andAthe motor shaft 1,- this ange ring 13 havin a tapered bore 14 at oneend coosperating wit the tapered end of the aft `1, upon which saidflange ring .is forced. An annular recess 15 1s proed between thetapered bearing 14 and the sieylindrical bearing 16 where the right handend of the ila e ring 13 bears'upon the pump shaft 7.

whereas the motor shaftl is preferably mada The flange ring member 13has a bearing lian 17 with a plane surface facing tothe bright. It alsohas a throwing ilange-18 the usual check va'lve type, extends intocommunication with the annular space 15 and a lubricant, preferably arelatively viscous oil,- is adapted to be forced into said space to Iilland seal the same, and, in the case of the esca of any of said lubricantalong the shaft 7 underneath thebearing 16, to lubricate parts of the'acking. j

The shaft has, at its junction with the impeller 8, a plane flange 22facin towards the left. Thus there 4are two flat anges 17 and 22 on theshaft 7 rotating therewith and facin each other.

A ring of block graphite 23, having a flat planar end face, engages theflat face of the ange 22. Likewise, a graphite block 24 havmg a planarend face, engages the face of the flange'17, these flat surfaces of theblocks making fiuid tight joints with the Hat faces of the flanges. y

The graphite blocks 23 and 24are in the form o rings which embracerelatively closely the shaft 7 and thereby provide cylindrical bearings25 and 26 with the corresponding parts of the shaft 7. However, a tightfitcannot be maintained between the shaft 7 and lubricant vbetween thesetwo rings, serves to assist in forming a seal between the shaft and 'thenon-rotating part.

The graphite rings 23 and 24 are supported in a carrier member 27 whichhas a cylindrical exterior and which houses a series of compression.springs- 28-28 for applying endwise pressure to the rings 23 and 24 tomaine pump shaft 7 is prefer- I ably made of a corrosion resistingmetalp tain them in engagement with their cooperating flanges.

The carrier 27, which is cylindrical on its exterior, fits relativelyclosely within the hollow boss 9, said fit being'loose'enough however,to permit the carrier 27 to seat itself concentric with the shaft 7. Thehollow boss 9 has a packing recess 29 in which there is disposedcompressible packing material 30 to form a tight seal between the pumpbody Aand said carrier 27. The compressible packing 30 is engaged bya-followenring 31 and the packing. is compressed by means of the studs32-32 which have heads 33 of noncircular cross-sectibn seated innon-circular recesses in the motor bearing support 10. The recesses areslotted out radially and the heads 33 have cooperating wings 34 lyingVin said recesses, whereby the heads of the studs 32 are prevented notonly from escaping radially, but also from turning. The opposite ends ofthe bolts 32 project into hexag- Y j onal extensions 36 into which theyarev Y threaded. These bolt extensions 36 havel parts. The material 40might harden after its application anda suitable cementitious materialcould be employed.

The block 23 fits closelyin said counterbore and is prevented fromturning therein by a series of 'pins 41, shown in Fig. 2, these pinsbeing mounted in the body of the carrier 27 and extending into recessesin the blockv 23. ,The carrier 27 'has an inner cylindrical wall 43integral with the end wall 44 and, hence, with the outer cylindricalwall.` The. springs 28 are disposed between saidl innerand outer wallsof the carrier 27 in suitable pockets or seats vprovided therein asshown in Fig. 2. The springs 28- bear at their right hand ends againstthe end wall 44, and at their left hand ends they bear against spring`followers 46 which, in turn, engage the right hand end face of thegraphite block`24. The

graphite block 24 is counterbored to receive the end of the inner wall43 of the carrier 27, suitable grooves being formed in the innerperipheral cylindrical surface at 47, to .provide a labyrinth acking. V

The outer cy indrical periphery of the g naphite ring 24 fits inside theouter wall 45 of the carrier 27 and is provided with a series of groovesto provide a similar labyrinth packing.A

' Thev carrier 27 has an opening 48 through the outer wall threaded toreceive a pres-- sure grease cup 49, part of which is shownV in Fig. 2.This grease cup may rest against 5. one of the bolts 32 to preventturning of the carrier 27.

Thel ring 24 is prevented. from turning by the provision of a flat sptlying in engagement with the inwardly e, tending boss 50 in which theseat for-.the grase cup is formed.

The grease from the pressure grease cup 449 entersthe space between theright hand end of the ring 24 and ills the space in which the sprin 28are seatedvand, in fact, the entire interior of the carrier l27. Suchgrease as escapes along the bearing 47 and laby-l rinth packing therein,lubricates the adjacent ring 24, both as to its cylindrical bearing onthe shaft 7 and also its endwise bearing on the flange 17 ,.some of saidlubricant also extending along the s ,pace between the inner wall 43 ofthe carrier 27 and the shaft 7 and lubricating the ring 23 on 'the shaft7 and against the4 flange 22. The carrier 27 is preferably'made ofcorrosion resisting material. It will be apparent that either flange andits cooperating ring'might be dispensed with and only one ring reliedupon for a tight-fit; but an unbalanced force would immediately bepresent tending to thrust the impeller endwise in the casing. In mypump, which is vpreferably of the character disclosed in my prior PatentNo. 1,578,236, no separate bearing is provided for the pump shaft. "Thepump shaft 7 and the motor shaft 1 are keyed together at the point wherethey are telel scoped into each other. By the provision of the doubleseal, I am able 'to dispense with y any bearingload caused by theengagement vof the rings with the flanges. It will be seen .that theplanar engagement of these two cooperating parts will 'remain ti ht,even' with wear and even though the sha 7 is not running absolutelyt-rue. Inpractice the shaft 7 is carefully trued and mounted in thebearings 2-3, but a small amount of lateral play cannot be prevented.Since the bearing faces are fiat at right angles to the axis of theshaft, a motion of translation of Athe shaft is possible without loss oftightness at the bearing. Similarly, wear of the graphite having a flatflange, a rigid antifriction 'ring embracing the shaft and havingcontact theresaid ring for holding al sealing 'lui between ing 30` tomaintain engagement between the yielding means for holding said faces.in.

enga ement, a compressible packin for sealing t e space between the ringan' the boss and meansin the shaft embracin face yof said face and theshaft.

2. In combination, a casing member adapted to receive a compressiblepacking, a rotatable shaft extending loosely. through said casing andhaving a fiat liange,`a 'rigid antifriction ring embracing the shaft andhaving contactV therewith and having a flat end face engaging said flatflange, a carrier for the ring, spring means for holdin said iiat facesin engagement, a compressib e packing for sealing 'the space between thecarrier and the casing and means in the shaft embracing face of saidring for :holding a sealing iuid between said face and the shaft.y

3,'In combination, a casing having 'a recess adapted to receive acompressible packing, arotary shaft extending loosely through saidcasing, said shaft having a fiat flange, a flat ended ring for engagingVsaid flange, said ring having an inner surface containing a spiralgroove and cooperating with the cylindrical surface of said shaft tohold a seal# ing fluid therebetween, a cylindrical ,card

vrier member for said-ring,a compressible packing between said casingand sald cylindrical carrier member, aspring for forcing said carriermember through said packing to maintain the flat bearingfaces. inengagement, and means for conducting va sealin Huid along said shaftthrough said spiragroove.'

4. In combination, a casin having a hollow' boss, a shaft projectingIoosely throu h said hollow boss, a flange on the shaft within .Y 'the'casing, an external flange on' the shaft spaced from said first vnamedflange, a pair of ring members cooperating with said ange members, acarrier for 'sald ring members and a packing between the hollow boss andthe carrier member, said carrier member hav".

ing spring means for forcing the rings 115 `against the cooperatingflanges. block is readily taken up by the springs 28,

5. In combination, a shaft, a flange-formed integral with the shaft, aflange ring removably mounted on the shaft, an annular carrier membersurrounding said shaft, anti/- 120. frictlon bearlng rmgs carried bysaid carrier member for engagement with said shaft and said Bange andange ring, spring means carried by the carrier member for spreading saidringls with respect to each other and forcing t em into engagement withthe flange members, and a housing enclosing said flange and being sealedto said carrier member.

6. In combination, -a shaft having a pair of spaced facing flanges, anannular carrier 1,30

i bearing en wise against said Hanges, said `rings being engaged andnonrotata 1y supported by said carrier member, and -one of said ringshaving axial motion with respect tothe surfaces of the carrier memberthat it engages, and spr-inglmeans between said last named ring and t ecarrier member.

7 In combination, a'shaft, a pair of fac- .ing flange members on theshaft spaced from eachother, an annular carrier member sur- Jroundingthe shaft between said flanges, a pair of cooperating bearing ringsnon-rotatably supportedby said carrier member and4 engagin endwiseagainst said flanges, and means or conducting a lubricant into theinterior of the carrier member to permit the same'to ilow from theinterior thereof'to said bearingmembers.

v8. In combination, a shaft, a flange integral with the. outer end ofthe shaft, a separate flange rin embracing the shaft spaced from saidirst ange, said ring having an annular face onthe interior thereofcommunicating with the surface'of the shaft, a bearing ring adapted toengage each of-said Iiange's, and a lubricating connection communicatingwith the space on the interior of said flange ring. 9. In combination, amotor shaft having bearings, a pump shaft piloted into the end. of themotor shaft, a flange ring having a taper fit on the end of the motorshaft at one end and bearing on the pump shaft at the `other end andvhaving an interior annular space between said'ends, and means forconducting al sealing. fluid to said space to prel vent the creepa'ge ofcorrosive liquid to the 10. In combination, a housing havin a hollowboss, a shaft projecting loosely t rough the boss, apair o flanges onthe shaft, one of said angesbeing interior with respect to the boss andthe other exterior with respect to the boss, a cylindrical carriermember embracing the shaft between said flanges, a yieldable packingbetween the boss and the carrier, an antifrictio'n bearing ringnon-rotatably seated in one end' of the carrier, an antifriction bearingring non-rotatably seated in the opposite end of the carrier member, apocket vin the carrier member for receiving a spring for urging saidrings into engagement with the flanges, said second named ringcooperating with the external flange and servingto seal ofi' the springpocket.

11. 'In combination, a housing having a hollow boss, a shaft projectingloosely through the boss, a pair of flanges on the shaft, one of `saidanges being interior with Arespect to the boss and the other exteriorwith respect to the boss, a cylindrical carrier member embracing theshaft between said anges, a yieldable packing between the boss and thecarrier,

an antifriction bearing `ring non-rotatably rigid antifriction rings`seated in one end of the carrier, an'antifriction bearing ringnon-rotatably seated in the opposite end of the carrier member, a pocketin the carrier .member for receiving a. spring for urging said ringsinto engagement withthe flan ,said second named ring cooperating wit theexternal flange and serving to seal olf the spring pocket, and means forconducting a lubricant into said spring pocket.

12. In combination, a shaft having a air of flanges facing each other, aairl of rings yieldingly pressed against said anges, a carrier forsaid-rings forming a substantially tight joint between said rings, andmeans for conducting-a lubricant between the shaft and the carrier tolubricate said rings and to hinder travel of liquid along the shaftbetween saidflanges.

13. In combination', a shaft having a pair andymeans for conducting alubricant bethe carrier and the other of therngs ftoprevent travel ofliquid therebetween,

14. In combination, a casing, a shaft in said casing having an annularface, a rin embracing the-shaft and having a flat en face engaging saidannular face to form a Huid tight joint, spring means for holding saidfaces in engagement, and means including a cylindrical tubing embracingsaid ring and spring for preventing iuid escaping between said facescoming in contact with said spring means.

I15. In combination, a casing, a shaft in said lcasing and having anannular face, a cylindrical carrier member embracing the shaft, ayieldable packing between the carrier and the casing, 'an antifrictionbearing ring seated in one end of the carrier and fixed against'rotation with respect thereto, a pocket in the opposite end of thecarrier for receiving a spring for urging said ring into engagement withsaid annular face, and means fitted into the open end of said pocket andurged outwardly. in it by said spring to assist said ring in ysealingsaid shaft.

16. In combination, a casing, a shaft in said casing4 having a fiatange, a ring embracing the shaft and having'a liat'end face engaging.said flat flange to maintain a fluid tight joint, a carrier memberembracing said shaft and spaced therefrom for supporting said ring, andmeans for conducting a sealing fluid into the space between said carrierand said shaft to hinder the creepage of fluid escaping between saidfaces along said shaft. 1

17. In a non-corrosive packing gland, the

combination with a shaft disposed concen- Y trically within a hollowboss vand having a pair of radial flanges spaced apart, of a ringcarrier comprising a shaft cylinder embracing the shaft between said anes, a radial ange at one end of said eylin er, a second cylinderconcentric with respect to 'the first and ovcrhanging said cylinderflange to form a pocket, a packing ring disposed in said pocket andbearing against one o said langes, a soft packing member between saidring and cylinder ange, asecond packing ring embracing said other shaftflange and having an annular portion projecting between said cylinders,a spring between said second `ring andccylinder angeivfor keeping saidpacking rings in Contact with said flanges, and means including saidsoft packing member and labyrinth packings on said second ring forpreventing a corrosive fluid from coming into contact with said spring.v

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 24th day ofSeptember,'1927.

HARRY E. LA BOUR.

